The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-06-09

Meanwhile the news Of the commotion
was spread about, and the people in the house
were eager for the particulars. The accepted
version was that Rolfe had attempted to hug
and kiss Miss Craydocke by force.
"He was always on too familiar footing
here" said a tobacco factors daughter, and
who, as one Of the richly rich, was anx
ious that the visible distinctions of gentility
should be plainly marked.
Edith had retired to her room. The girls
rushed after her and found her in tears.
There was q chorus of "Oh, what's the mat
ter, dear!"
"Oh, it's too dreadful to talk about, girls;
can't tell you now," said Edith fencing for
time to think out what to say and do.
A chorus of "Oh, poor dear' and they
Rugged and kissed her, and could haye
scratched Rolfe's eyes out, while she would
have liked to put her arms around his neck.
Bob and Dick, her brothers, came rushing
upstairs, red-faced and violent, making for
Rolfe's door. She rushed out on the land
ing, and stood before them as tense in every
muscle as she had been limp before. go
down stairs!' she said, with an imperious
gesture, and they went.
Meanwhile Rolfe was bursting with rage
and modification. He understood it all now!
Had ever man been such dupe before? His
observation of her intimacy with Lord
Creighton had decided her to get rid of him.
He laughed bitterly. and busted himself with
the packing of his portmanteau, which he
sent ahead of him to the town. Then he
sought Mr.. Craydocke to turn over to him
his account books. Craydocke's voice, still
pitched in an angry key, was heard in the
parlor. Rolfe, like all persons given to
habits of introspection, was apt to be awk-
ward and self-conscious when he felt that his
movements were being observed; but his
spirits rose in the presence of an emergency.
In his present mood he was Indifferent to
everything, and the only boon he would
have craved of fortune was the pleasure of
knocking Lord Creighton down. This was q
pleasure he determined to have, but he pro-
posed that Lord Creighton should be the ag-
gressor.
He walked into the parlor, smiling and
bowling politely, and approached Mr.. Cray
docke, regardless of the stares to which he
was subjected by the ladies and gentlemen in
the room. His effrontery astounded Mr.
Craydocke, who was not ready of speech
and he listened silently, while in an easy
and unembarrassed tone Rolfe gave him
some information in regard to the state of
his accounts, and called his attention to
business matters that needed to be looked to.
Rolfe made formal leave-taking, and as he
walked through the room to the doorway,
he coolly surveyed the company, devoting to
my Lord Creighton, in particular, a glance of
cool disdain. That gentlemen was furious to
see Rolfe carrying off the honors of the en-
counter; but lie could hardly collect his
faculties so as to resolve what he might do
and retain his dignity. Controlling his
temper with violent effort, he assumed his
most supercilious manner and most exquisite
drawl, and advanced toward Rolfe.
''Ah, fellow! don't know whether, as a
magistrate of this province, do right in per-
mitting you to depart without furnishing you
for assault upon your master daughter. You
ought by rights to be sent to the whipping
post; but in Difference to your kind master,
have concluded to let you go scot free. The
base nature of you redemptioners stands con-
stantly in need of the lash. Keep from thiev-
ing and violence hereafter, and try to lead an
honest life, or else you'll come to the gibbet."
Rolfe (coldly}-"I do not know what may
be the style of manners in the place where
your lordship received your breeding, but in
this part of the world for gentleman to
offer an insult when the presence of ladies
protects him from the consequences il pre-
sumptiye evidence of cowardice."
Creighton (his dignity collapsing)-"You
vile, nameless redemptioner! How dare you
address me thus J"
Rolfe, with cold disdain. replied: II see
my lord, you are determined to take the
fullest advantage of your immunity"
Creighton could no longer restrain him
self, and made motion as If to throw him
self upon Rolfe, Q movement which the
Latter contemplated with the iveliest satis-
faction. The thought OF the disgrace of an
undignifed scufle with an inferior, in which
he might be worsted, flashed across Lord
Creighton's mind in time to restrain him;
but, catching up glass of wine, he threw II
and its contents in Rolfe's face. Calmly
wiping the drops from his face and clothing,
Rolfe, In Q voice and manner made a con-
cold and deliberate utterance that he had all
along maintained:
"As you are magistrate, my lord, you
ought to know the proper punishment to
nsts out to ruffisn; but it Is, Of course,
hardly to be expected that you will adminis-
ter 1t upon yourself"
Leaving Creighton gasping and paraiyzed
by this SHAFT, Rolfe walked deliberately ont
the doorway into the hall. Miss Craydocke
stood on the stairway pale and agitated. She
looked at him with an appealing glance. He
bowed with cerem0ni0us pOliteness, walked